I've just discovered your work and wish I had discovered it earlier. I'm no writer, but I like to think I can appreciate good writing when I read it. I certainly see it when I read Pat Conroy. Thanks for your efforts, Mr. Conroy.

Dearest Mr. Conroy,Thank you for the strength through laughter, wisdom through innocence, and comfort through shared experiences you’ve bestowed upon the world as your soulful gifts. I am the second of three generations of women, continuing a love affair with your work. I have often noted my own young woman child of a daughter conducting internal self-examinations during her readings of your books and novels. There is little more rewarding as a parent than to know something you hold dear is also a preciously guarded gift by your child, when it reflects all things wondrous as a human being, but also is capable of calling out our imperfections. Your writings continue to yield and overflow with the rawness of what humanity becomes when propagated and tended, or left to wilt and die.

Just finished ' My Reading Life". You and I were born in the year of the "Boomers" inception. I wish you had written and I had read this book 40 years earlier. In any event I intend to read every work you reference in the order they appear and see what happens. If the result is life altering you can call the book a cookbook for the soul.

I spent most of my life without reading any of your books. The first one I read was "South of Broad" I was hooked and am now reading all of your books.I have a great basketball story for you if you are ever interested... a poor family in southern Ohio... five brothers... thier only hope was in basketball. All five of the Thompson brothers were given full scholarships to play basketball in college... there is so much to their lives and the story of southern Ohio basketball.

I'm watching the movie "The Water is Wide" on Hallmark Movie Channel. Hope it's good! :)I love your books, my best is "The Prince of Tides" but I have to tell you Barbra Streisand ruined it. I was on vacation and they used the rental house we stayed in for a night scene. Boy that Barbra is one MEAN "B"... have hated her since. She's a socialist or commie too.

I see there are some books of yours I haven't read, and I've read most of them, so I'm going to get busy with my Nook. Well, take care and keep up the good writing. Oh and I love your wife's books too!

As the wife of a classmate I have followed your career and read all of your books. You signed your cookbook for me with the comment that it would cost Don a lot of money, and it did( trip to Italy two years ago). I have just found your blog and am delighted. The tribute to the Boo is wonderful but I must have been in a fog for years as I did not realize the Boo had been exiled! Why? Thanks Pat for joining the cyber world. We will all benefit from your words.

I just finished reading "The Prince of Tides." The eloquent fluidity of the book helped to break up the intensity of the storyline. I am forever moved by the Tale of Wingo. Rarely does a book create such a catharsis. In memory of Luke Wingo - a true American.

You are a rare modern-day writer that understands Southern life and what it means to be born and raised in the Deep South. Families are institutions and some members may end up in institutions. Being part of a family is difficult at best. To me you understand the helplessness that a child feels over his precarious position in the structure of that family. You do a wonderful job and you enlighten as well as entertain your readers. Please continue. Deepest regards, Maribeth

Never before has there been a writer who could capture my thoughts and feelings about the tragedies and tumultuous events of my life. How do you articulate my reactions to these events of which your characters must overcome? The thoughts you convey are thoughts that I have such trouble expressing at times. I cry often when reading your novels; they are a sweet release from the chasm that life can create. You and your writing make it worth the experience and remind me that there is a fight worth fighting and things do have a way of working out. Your novels have opened another chapter of my life; there is pronounced freedom in each word of every character. I see bits of myself in each of them. I believe God led me to your books for a sense of belonging and to begin healing. Thank you!